WHY?!?!?

[Otto]

Penn State signed Joe Paterno for four more years, through 2008. He'll be 81 at the end of his contract. I realize he's an icon, that he's won a zillion games, etc. His place in history -- at Penn State and in the history of college football -- is secure. But he's shown that either the game has passed him by or he just can't recruit as he once did, or maybe both.

Build the man a statue (complete with the ugly glasses and the weird black cleats) or name an award after him or something, but it's time for JoePa to be put out to pasture. A few more mediocre seasons will do nothing but tarnish his reputation and leave him with a legacy of a man who just didn't know when to hang up his whistle.

[gostangs]

The question is why a guy like Paterno would not give everyone a break and retire gracefully, instead of making someone eventually be the bad guy by having to fire a legend, which they should have already done.

[EastStang]

The guy can still recruit, and I suspect that the school doesn't want him to suddenly be hired by say Temple to "rebuild" their program, and hurt PSU recruiting. I suspect that another losing season or two, he'll leave, or if he has a winning season soon, he'll leave on a high note.

[GoRedGoBlue]

It's not like he is actually coaching, guys.

[Cheesesteak]

Some thoughts on JoePa:
Above all else...JoePa is an extrodinary man.

He might not stay for the duration of his contract. The extension gives him the ability to retire without being told "you are out of time". PSU insiders suggest that the university has increased leverage (can politely nudge JoePa if the football program continues to decline) in the new contract.

Otto - there is a large and well-made bronze statue of JoePa on the east side of Beaver Stadium. He can still recruit - the most recent PSU class was ranked between 10th-15th in the nation.

gostangs - nobody and I mean nobody currently at PSU would fire/consider firing JoePa...the President (Spanier) or AD (Curley) would themselves be fired while JoePa would be retained. JoePa's relationships with influential PSU boosters and the Board of Governors are unmatched by other D1A coaches. While some critics (about JoePa's present ability to motivate and develop players) exist, many astute PSU football observers believe that the team will make a run at the national championship during the 2005 season.

Since PSU's decline started about five years ago, there have been more disciplinary problens then ever before (in a similar time period) in the Paterno era. JoePa was thought to have become too "grandfatherly" and too understanding. Well, he's been kicking *** and taking names since the 2003 season ended. Players (alcohol abuse, fights, etc.) have been booted or suspended in eye-opening numbers recently.

Over the decades Joe and his wife have donated over $4 million of their own money to PSU. His direct fund-raising efforts are thought to have raised more than $100 million for PSU.

Some JoePa facts:

"Paterno is entering his 55th year as a member of the Nittany Lions' coaching staff and 39th season as head coach. During the 2001 season, he passed Paul "Bear" Bryant to become the all-time victories leader among major college coaches. Entering the 2004 season, Paterno owns a superlative record of 339-109-3 to rank second in career wins among Division I-A coaches.

A further testament to Paterno's sustained level of success is his 75.5 winning percentage, which is fifth-best among active Division I-A coaches.

Paterno is the all-time leader among coaches in bowl appearances (31) and postseason triumphs (20). The Nittany Lions are 14-6 in New Year's Day games under Paterno. His overall postseason record of 20-10-1 gives him a winning percentage of 66.1, ranking him No. 3 among the bowl season's best of all-time.

Since Paterno took over in 1966, Penn State has had 69 first-team All-Americans, claiming three in 2002. Over the same span, the Lions have counted 14 Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes, 22 first-team Academic All-Americans and 18 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners.

Paterno's coaching portfolio includes two National Championships (1982, 1986); five undefeated, untied teams; 20 finishes in the Top Ten of the national rankings; four AFCA Coach-of-the-Year plaques, and more than 250 former players who have made it to the National Football League, 29 of them first-round draft choices. His teams have registered seven undefeated regular-seasons and he has had 26 teams finish in the Top 20."

[Cheesesteak]

Posted by GoRedGoBlue:

It's not like he is actually coaching, guys.

He is coaching...

JoePa is still one of the most hands-on coaches in America. His inability to delegate is legendary. JoePa personally calls one or more play during many offensive series. He is still active in almost every aspect of the football program, especially during practice.

Hiring Galen Hall (in charge of the offense) (PSU doesn't use OC/DC titles) might get JoePa to stop tinkering with PSU's play calling.

[ponyboy]

Some thoughts on JoePa:
... there is a large and well-made bronze statue of JoePa on the east side of Beaver Stadium.

Ok, this is sick. No one living should have a statue of himself. Most especially if he's currently IN the position.

Having said that, I like Joe Paterno. It will be a sad day when he retires.

[Greenwich Pony]

What's so sick about it? I have a statue to myself in my front lawn right now. Oh, wait, that's just a garden gnome...

...never mind...

[gostangs]

He only has one national championship - the other one was stolen from us - given to him because everybody felt sorry for him TWENTY years ago for not having won a nat'l champinship before. We should have won that championsip as the only undefeated team in the country - after all we won it fair and square with our bought and paid for team!!

I actually like the guy - but he has needed new pants for about half a century.

[DallasDiehard]

The guy can still recruit, and I suspect that the school doesn't want him to suddenly be hired by say Temple to "rebuild" their program, and hurt PSU recruiting. I suspect that another losing season or two, he'll leave, or if he has a winning season soon, he'll leave on a high note.

I don't know - if he left, either by his choice or Penn State's, I couldn't see him moving to another school, even if he got such an offer .... which, sadly, I don't think he'd get. And definitely not to a re-building job.

[DallasDiehard]

He is coaching...

If that's the case, then it really is time to call it a career. Penn State has been bad and sadly predictable in the last few years. He was a good (albeit vastly overrated) coach years ago, and he's supposedly a great man (although he really looks like he wishes he was Vince Lombardi with those ridiculous cleats), but other coaches have left the old man behind.

[RGV Pony]

Good points made on the fact that Paterno can still recruit. Come to think of it, I'll bet Ron Meyer can still recruit. Any takers?

[Corso]

Whoever it is (Penn State AD, president, etc.) who tells Paterno it's time to "retire" will be hated in Happy Valley, but if they replace him with a stud coach who brings the program back to national prominence, he'll be forgiven like Jerry Jones was after he turned the Landry firing into Super Bowl trophies.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Just think about how you will feel when Bennett signs with SMU for four more years when he is 77. I'm sure you'll support this kind of move then.

[GoRedGoBlue]

Posted by GoRedGoBlue:

It's not like he is actually coaching, guys.

He is coaching...

JoePa is still one of the most hands-on coaches in America. His inability to delegate is legendary. JoePa personally calls one or more play during many offensive series. He is still active in almost every aspect of the football program, especially during practice.

Hiring Galen Hall (in charge of the offense) (PSU doesn't use OC/DC titles) might get JoePa to stop tinkering with PSU's play calling.

Cheesesteak,

Listen, I know guys up there, and they are pretty adament that Joepa isn't the 'real' coach up there...he is a recruiting idol and has great insight and input, but you really think that a bunch of inner city thugs are taking direction for a 78 year old man? C'mon...